Council questions fire company water usage

Duncannon Borough Council discussed various issues with Duncannon Fire Company during its May 19 meeting, including repairs for fire company trucks and company water usage.

Council questioned Duncannon Fire Company President Kevin Bissonnette over rescue trucks using metered hydrants in Penn Twp., near the Petersburg Commons development.

Council members said they received several complaints from residents about water quality that morning. Bissonnette said the hydrant was used due to the Amity Hall Inn & Motor Lodge fire that morning.

Bissonnette was told by council that hydrant is metered and the Penn Township Municipal Authority would be billed for the water.

Borough manager Dan Rapp told Bissonnette the fire company previously had been given a key to one of the borough wells to use for fill up. Bissonnette apologized, and told council he would make sure the issue would be discussed with fire company members.

Bissonnette told council the company's tower truck remains out of service, for lack of $17,000 needed to repair the vehicle.

Bissonnette told council DFC has approached Wheatfield and Penn townships about additional assistance. Wheatfield Twp. supervisors will discuss the issue at their June 1 meeting and Penn Twp. supervisors are going to "wait and see' what the other municipalities do before committing any funds.

The truck is more than 30 years old, Bissonnette said, and a Hagerstown, Md. repair company estimated "worst-case' scenario repair costs at $17,000. Bissonnette said the repair company estimated the cost from a report about the truck.

Council made no decisions regarding the issue, but council President Duane Hammaker asked Bissonnette about a possible loan from the borough. Bissonnette said the company is currently operating with a deficit, and he didn't see repayment this year as an option.

Bissonette also briefly discussed a proposed ordinance with council regarding charging insurance companies for responses to at-fault accidents. Council didn't make any decision regarding the proposal.